It’s easy to fall for indie/pop artist Sinclair and her debut EP, Sweet Talk, released November 4 via Drive Music LLC. A young Nashville transplant by way of upstate New York, Sinclair exudes a cool balance of uninhibited, starry-eyed dreaming and worldly experience in her music.
Sweet Talk’s musically diverse fives songs are all passion-infused bits of pop magic: There’s the feel-good high octane singalong “The World Is Ours,” the indie-pop, synth glazed Lorde-esque opening track, “Holla” (I could go on about this track all day – definite hit potential), and the heavily Nashville-influenced crossover ballad, “This Too Shall Pass.”
Listen: “Holla” – Sinclair
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Sinclair differs from many pop contemporaries in both her musical background and her personal story. Per her bio:
Born in upstate New York, Sinclair cut her teeth as a competitive classical guitarist, earning multiple local and national accolades. Although encouraged to play music, Sinclair found herself at offs with the views of her pastoral father and eight siblings when, at age 20, she revealed she was a lesbian. Feeling suddenly disconnected from her familial roots and small town in which she was raised, Sinclair moved to Nashville in pursuit of both a musical and personal identity. Since arriving in Nashville, Sinclair has quickly earned a reputation as one of Nashville’s most promising artists.
This chronology is the story of someone who has persevered, and it is most evident in her music. Sinclair’s genuine character that shines through Sweet Talk allows each song to come off as honest and true as the last in a unique manner – as, in proper musical form, these tracks seem to have a number of layers. Even the carefree-sounding indie pop essential “The World Is Ours” stretches the boundaries of contemporary pop music – which is a good thing, by the way! Sinclair sings:
You leave California and I’ll leave New York
We will meet in the middle where the rivers fork
Take your pretty time and stumble softly towards me
Nobody loves in a straight line
Nobody, honey / Nobody, honey
Modern desperado out looking for gold
I went belly up but found your beautiful soul
Take your pretty time and stumble softly towards me
Nobody loves in a straight line
Nobody, honey
Nobody can tell you to love somebody you don’t
If you don’t
Where the wind will blow, only God really knows
Yeah, the world is ours
Yeah, the world is ours
Yeah, the world is ours
And we will have it
I think I’m right, alright alright
Listen: “The World Is Ours” – Sinclair
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A repetitive and upbeat radio-friendly pop song, “The World Is Ours” has the potential to be one whose underlying meaning gets lost in translation (ala Springsteen’s “Born In The U.S.A.” or the acronym “YOLO”). In the chorus, Sinclair comes to the conclusion that “the world is ours,” but she delivers this song in such a way that suggests she took the long (and winding) road to get there: The verses depict financial, emotional, internal and external hardship. Sinclair isn’t afraid of her past; in fact, she draws her strength from overcoming her obstacles, which is a praiseworthy feat for anyone.
Not many people can go ahead and write a fantastic EP out of hardship, though. Sinclair’s lyrics are vague enough to make them relatable to most any situation, yet specific enough such that they sound genuine to her story. Give a listen to Sinclair’s Sweet Talk EP; this is definitely some of the better indie pop to come out in 2014, and we’re excited to see where Sinclair goes from here! Meanwhile, we’ll be playing “Holla” up through the new year 😉
Listen: “This Too Shall Pass” – Sinclair
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For more information on Sinclair, be sure to follow her on Facebook and Twitter.
